Total pages in book: 32
Estimated words: 29423 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 147(@200wpm)___ 118(@250wpm)___ 98(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 29423 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 147(@200wpm)___ 118(@250wpm)___ 98(@300wpm)
Her lips curved up a little, but it didn’t reach her eyes. “What did your brother need to talk about?”
I didn’t want to worry her with this bullshit, but I wasn’t going to keep anything from her again. “He fell in love and is abdicating the throne.”
“Making you the next Crown Prince. No longer the ‘runner-up.’” Her tone was flat, and I hated it. She was usually so expressive. I didn’t like this new stony exterior.
“No. It’s not what I want. Philippe and I have a plan. But I need to go home to handle it.”
Dani nodded and began to turn again, but I closed the distance between us and pulled her into my arms. “Come with me, princesse. I’ll show you my home and introduce you to my family.”
She shook her head and blinked a few times as if holding back tears. But there was another lackluster smile on her face. “I should stay here. I have classes, and it’s my sister’s birthday next week. Besides, you have a lot to focus on, and the last thing you need is to worry about me.”
“I always worry about you, princesse. Even more so when I am not with you to see to your protection and welfare. Please, come with me.”
For a moment, I thought I’d convinced her, but then she shook her head. “If you come back, we’ll plan a trip for another time.”
“There is no if, Dani. I will be back. And when I come back, we’ll focus on our future together. When, Dani. Say it.”
“When,” she whispered, but her lack of conviction ate at me. Unfortunately, if I wanted to spend the rest of my life with her, I had to go now.
“Fuck, I hate leaving you right now. But I have just enough time for a reminder,” I growled.
“A reminder?” She gasped when I scooped her up into my arms and stalked to the bedroom.
“A reminder of who you belong to, princesse.”
Philippe sat in one of the chairs across from the entrance to the plane. He stared out the window into the darkness, absently swirling a glass that most likely held scotch.
“Can I get you anything?” Aimeé—according to her nametag—asked as she took my coat and bag. I didn’t recognize her, but it had been years since I took my family’s jet anywhere. Glancing back at Michel, who was right behind me, he shrugged, obviously unfamiliar with her too.
“Whiskey. Neat.” She nodded and turned to walk away, but I caught her arm. “Better make it a double.”
Michel lifted his chin at me, then went to sit with Philippe’s bodyguards since one of them was his brother.
I dropped into the seat across from my brother, and he looked over at me with surprise, obviously just noticing I’d come on board. Then he glanced around, his brow furrowing as he met my gaze again. “Where’s Dani?”
“She somehow convinced me to let her stay behind,” I grumbled. “Something is off. Besides our issues with my keeping a secret from her. And I’m pissed as fuck that I had to leave without handling it.”
Philippe nodded, then took another swig of his drink. “I talked to Dad.”
Before I could respond, Aimeé showed up with my whiskey. “Will there be anything else?” she asked, her tone a little too sugary. It made my teeth hurt.
“No, Aimeé,” Philippe answered curtly.
“Let me know if you need anything. We should be taking off in just a few minutes.”
I swallowed half the liquid in my glass before noticing she no longer stood beside us. “Where the hell did you find her?”
Philippe made a disgusted noise before finishing his scotch and setting his glass down hard on the low coffee table between us. “Fucking Beauchenes,” he snarled. “She’s somebody’s distant something in-law or blah, blah, blah. Someone convinced the captain to hire her, and since we’ve always let him be in charge of the staff, I didn’t even know about it. On the ride over here, she shoved her tits in my face so many times that I almost choked on her perfume. She proceeded to strip down as far as she could without technically being out of uniform. Then during turbulence, she ‘fell’ into my lap and accidentally grabbed my cock.”
“Why the fuck is she still working here, Philippe?”
“Because we needed someone, and I don’t have time to deal with finding a replacement right now. When we get home, she’ll be fired and forbidden to come near anyone in the royal family.”
“Fair warning, if she comes anywhere near my junk, I will break her hand. And she’d be lucky because if Dani were here, she’d probably gouge her eyes out.”
Philippe half smiled, his eyes going soft. “Yes, I imagine Isabella would do the same.”
I’d told him a lot about Dani over the past six weeks, but I wanted to know more about the woman who’d claimed my brother’s heart. I smiled and settled back into my seat. “We have a long ride. Tell me about her.”